resistance

1 of 2

noun

re·​sis·​tance ri-ˈzi-stən(t)s 

plural resistances

1

a

: an act or instance of resisting : opposition

b

: a means of resisting

2

: the power or capacity to resist: such as

a

: the inherent ability of an organism to resist harmful influences (such as disease, toxic agents, or infection)

b

: the capacity of a species or strain of microorganism to survive exposure to a toxic agent (such as a drug) formerly effective against it

3

: an opposing or impeding force

4

a

: the opposition offered by a body or substance to the passage through it of a steady electric current

b

: a source of resistance

5

: a psychological defense mechanism wherein a patient rejects, denies, or otherwise opposes the therapeutic efforts of a psychotherapist

6

often capitalized : an underground organization of a conquered or nearly conquered country engaging in sabotage and secret operations against occupation forces and collaborators

resistance

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or being exercise involving pushing or pulling against a source of resistance (such as a weight) to increase strength

resistance training

Synonyms

Noun

• defiance
• opposition

Examples of resistance in a Sentence

Noun

They have shown a stubborn resistance to change.

The troops met heavy resistance as they approached the city.

The paint shows good weather resistance.

Over time the patient could develop a resistance to the drug.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Russia, China and others are quite adept at this and now face less resistance. —Axios, 8 Jan. 2025

Both of those numbers suggest that today’s discount, with rates looking at a fair bit of upside resistance from here, is overdone. —Brett Owens, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025

The history of Native resistance, the philosophy of love, the medicalization of madness, color in fairy tales, and dinosaur bones. —JSTOR Daily, 8 Jan. 2025

The authors’ research shows that emphasizing this simple fact — the essential role of humans in AI tools — can boost perceptions of AI’s usefulness and reduce resistance to adoption. —Oguz A. Acar, anne-Kathrin Klesse, mirjam A. Tuk, Harvard Business Review, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1956, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing resistance

• cross-resistance
• insulin resistance
• insulin resistance syndrome
• offered no resistance
• offer resistance
• passive resistance
• take/follow the path/line of least resistance

Kids Definition

resistance

noun

re·​sis·​tance

ri-ˈzis-tən(t)s

1

a

: an act or instance of resisting : opposition

b

: a method of resisting

2

: the ability to resist

the body's resistance to disease

3

: an opposing or slowing force

4

: the opposition offered by a body or substance to the passage through it of a steady electric current

5

: a source of resistance

6

often capitalized : a secret organization in a conquered or nearly conquered country fighting against enemy forces

Medical Definition

resistance

noun

re·​sis·​tance ri-ˈzis-tən(t)s 

1

a

: power or capacity to resist

especially : the inherent ability of an organism to resist harmful influences (as disease, toxic agents, or infection)

b

: the capacity of a species or strain of microorganism to survive exposure to a toxic agent (as a drug) formerly effective against it due to genetic mutation and selection for and accumulation of genes conferring protection from the agent especially as a result of overuse of the agent which selectively destroys individual microorganisms lacking the protective genes

2

a

: the opposition offered by a body to the passage through it of a steady electric current

b

: opposition or impediment to the flow of a fluid (as blood or respiratory gases) through one or more passages see vascular resistance

3

: a psychological defense mechanism wherein a psychoanalysis patient rejects, denies, or otherwise opposes therapeutic efforts by the analyst